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Building Simulation 2019, 12(6): 1141-1159 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-019-0557-x
Research Article | Issue | Published: 26 June 2019

Modelling the impact of multizone airleakage on ventilation performance and indoor air quality in low-energy homes

Show Author's Information Gaëlle Guyot1,2( ),  Hugo Geoffroy2,  Michel Ondarts2,  Léna Migne2,  Mallory Bobee2,  Evelyne Gonze2,  Monika Woloszyn2
Cerema, Direction Centre-Est, 46, rue St Théobald, F-38080, L'Isle d'Abeau, France
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LOCIE, 73000 Chambéry, France
Keywords:
performance, indoor air quality, ventilation, infiltration, formaldehyde, house, airleakage, indicator
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Guyot G, Geoffroy H, Ondarts M, et al. Modelling the impact of multizone airleakage on ventilation performance and indoor air quality in low-energy homes. Building Simulation, 2019, 12(6): 1141-1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-019-0557-x
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Abstract Full text About this article

This study examined the impacts of detailed envelope airleakage distribution and internal partition walls airleakage on the ventilation performance of a detached low-energy house. We used a multizone modelling approach based on CO2, humidity and formaldehyde to calculate indoor air quality (IAQ) performance indicators. Impacts of uneven envelope airleakage distribution on selected IAQ performance indicators are generally significant whatever ventilation system is present. Impacts of internal partition wall airleakage are considerably greater with exhaust-only ventilation but can be high on some IAQ performance indicators with balanced ventilation. We also conclude that it is relevant to use detailed data on envelope airleakage distribution and internal partition wall airleakage to precisely assess ventilation performance on IAQ. This work highlights the need of regulations or labels requiring performance-based approaches for ventilation at the design stage of buildings, calculating the relevant IAQ performance indicators. In such multizone modelling approaches, detailed airleakage distributions, on envelope and on internal partition walls, should be taken into account.


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Modelling the impact of multizone airleakage on ventilation performance and indoor air quality in low-energy homes

Show Author's information Gaëlle Guyot1,2( ), Hugo Geoffroy2, Michel Ondarts2, Léna Migne2, Mallory Bobee2, Evelyne Gonze2, Monika Woloszyn2
Cerema, Direction Centre-Est, 46, rue St Théobald, F-38080, L'Isle d'Abeau, France
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LOCIE, 73000 Chambéry, France

Abstract

This study examined the impacts of detailed envelope airleakage distribution and internal partition walls airleakage on the ventilation performance of a detached low-energy house. We used a multizone modelling approach based on CO2, humidity and formaldehyde to calculate indoor air quality (IAQ) performance indicators. Impacts of uneven envelope airleakage distribution on selected IAQ performance indicators are generally significant whatever ventilation system is present. Impacts of internal partition wall airleakage are considerably greater with exhaust-only ventilation but can be high on some IAQ performance indicators with balanced ventilation. We also conclude that it is relevant to use detailed data on envelope airleakage distribution and internal partition wall airleakage to precisely assess ventilation performance on IAQ. This work highlights the need of regulations or labels requiring performance-based approaches for ventilation at the design stage of buildings, calculating the relevant IAQ performance indicators. In such multizone modelling approaches, detailed airleakage distributions, on envelope and on internal partition walls, should be taken into account.

Keywords: performance, indoor air quality, ventilation, infiltration, formaldehyde, house, airleakage, indicator

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 04 February 2019
Revised: 08 April 2019
Accepted: 06 May 2019
Published: 26 June 2019
Issue date: December 2019

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019

Acknowledgements

The contribution of Cerema is funded by the French Ministries in charge of sustainable development, transport and urban planning. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors.

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